Venice is a unique "floating city" built on 118 small islands within a shallow lagoon in northeastern Italy. Known for its intricate network of canals, stunning architecture, and rich history, it is a major cultural and tourist destination.
Unique foundation: The city's buildings are constructed on millions of wooden piles driven into the mud and clay of the lagoon floor. The saltwater prevents the wood from decaying, effectively turning it into a hardened foundation over time.
No cars: The historic center of Venice is entirely car-free, with transportation relying on its canals for water taxis and public water buses (vaporetti), as well as on foot.
Six sestieri: The historic center is divided into six districts, or sestieri: San Marco, San Polo, Santa Croce, Castello, Dorsoduro, and Cannaregio.
Refugee settlement: The city was founded in the 5th century AD by people fleeing mainland Italy to escape invading Germanic tribes.
Independent republic: For over a millennium, from 810 to 1797, Venice was an independent maritime and financial power known as the "Republic of Venice" or "La Serenissima". Its wealth came from trade, especially in silk and spices, connecting Europe and the East.
Decline and modern era: After its decline due to new trade routes and conflicts, Venice was conquered by Napoleon in 1797. It became part of the Kingdom of Italy in 1866.
We walked along the Grand Canal to get back to the ship. This is the city's main waterway, lined with magnificent palaces, winds through the center of Venice. If you cross the Rialto bridge and walk on the other side, suddenly the millions of tourists disappear and the streets are your own.
St. Mark's Basilica: A beautiful cathedral with golden mosaics and five domes.
Doge's Palace (Palazzo Ducale): The former seat of the Venetian government, a masterpiece of Venetian Gothic architecture.
Rialto Bridge: The oldest and most famous of the four bridges crossing the Grand Canal.
Islands: The nearby islands of Murano and Burano are known, respectively, for traditional glassmaking and colorful houses.
Environmental concerns: Venice faces ongoing environmental issues, including land subsidence and seasonal flooding (acqua alta), which are exacerbated by climate change.
Overtourism: With millions of annual visitors, the city struggles with the pressure on its infrastructure and environment.
Declining population: The permanent resident population of the historic center has been steadily decreasing due to high living costs, flooding and their houses being turned into AirBnB establishments.
The MOSE flood barriers - https://www.mosevenezia.eu/project/
Three inlets: The barriers are located at the Lido, Malamocco, and Chioggia inlets, which are the gaps between the barrier islands of the Venetian Lagoon.
Multiple gates per barrier: While you may see two sections of barriers at the Lido inlet, there are 78 independent gates in total across all three inlets.
How they work: When a high tide is forecast, compressed air is pumped into the gates, expelling the water they hold and causing them to rise and block the incoming sea. When the tide subsides, the gates are refilled with water and return to their resting position on the seabed.
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